The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a USD 230 million loan agreement to modernise and expand water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Chennai.

The Chennai Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sewerage Project aims to improve access to reliable water and sanitation services while strengthening the city’s resilience to climate change and enhancing public health.

Under the project, more than 170 km of water supply and sewer pipelines will be constructed, while seven water pumping stations and 38 sewer pumping stations will be upgraded. The initiative will also strengthen water utility operations through performance-based contracts.

The project will introduce digital technologies, including real-time monitoring and data-driven systems, to improve service efficiency, detect sewer blockages faster and enhance worker safety. Chennai will also become the first Indian city to implement a comprehensive ring-main water supply system designed to improve pressure balance, reliability and resilience.